In the District Court of the United States, for the Eastern District of Pennsylvania, the United States of America, petitioner, vs. Motion Picture Patents Company, et al., defendants (1912-1913)

Record Details:

Title:
In the District Court of the United States, for the Eastern District of Pennsylvania, the United States of America, petitioner, vs. Motion Picture Patents Company, et al., defendants
Date:
1912-1913
Publisher:
New York, Appeal Printing Co.
Volume:
In the District Court of the United States, for the Eastern District of Pennsylvania, the United States of America, petitioner, vs. Motion Picture Patents Company, et al., defendants : record volume 7
Leaf #:
000520
Language:
English
Collection:
Early Cinema and Government & Law
Format:
Periodicals
Contributor:
The Museum of Modern Art Library, New York
Sponsor:
Media History Digital Library
Coordinator:
Media History Digital Library
Description:
These seven volumes contain the testimonies and supporting documents from the U.S. District Court's antitrust lawsuit against the Motion Picture Patents Company (MPPC). Formed in 1908, the MPPC (sometimes referred to asœ"the Edison Trust" or just "the Trust") sought to control the American film industry through pooling patents and demanding that producers and exhibitors acquire licenses to those patents. Independent producers and exhibitors, who refused to license the patents, argued that the MPPC was an unlawful monopoly. In 1912 and 1913, the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Pennsylvania heard testimonies from both MPPC members, such as Siegmund Lubin, and "Independents" who later became Hollywood moguls, such as William Fox. Ultimately, in 1915, the case reached the U.S. Supreme Court, which found the MPPC in violation of the Sherman Antitrust Act and spelled the end for the already weakening MPPC. -- Eric Hoyt, 2012
Date Added:
June 27, 2024
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498 .Motion Picture Patents Co. and Thomas A. Edison, Inc. to The return of the same) on the first day of every month, beginning with July. 1912, an amount of positive motion pictures (on film of a greater width than approximately one (1) inch) in running feet (not Leased by the Licensee over six months before) and of tin1 make of the Licensee equal to ninety (90) per cent, of the amount that was so leased during the seventh month preceding the dale of each such return, with the exception, however, that where any such positive motion pictures are destroyed by tire or lost in transportation, and proof satisfactory to the Licensee is furnished as to such destruction or loss, tin1 amount so destroyed or lost shall be deducted from the amount to be returned as aforesaid; and (6) that the violation of any of the foregoing conditions, including the terms and conditions of the agreement referred to in condition 3 above, entitles the lessor to immediate possession of such motion picture without liability for any price which the lessee, or the person in whose possession it is found, may have paid therefor. The Licensee further covenants and agrees that in the "lease territory aforesaid" the Licensee will not discriminate in favor of any lessee, or place upon any motion pictures any restrictions, other than those specified in this paragraph and Paragraph 11, unless authorized by the Licensor. 25. The Licensee covenants and agrees that in the "lease territory aforesaid" the Licensee will dispose of positive motion pictures, on film of a greater width than approximately one ( 1) inch, only by the sale "for export" and shipment thereof into "said" export territory," or by the lease thereof to others for the purpose only of either sub-leasing the same to persons, firms or corporations using such motion pictures for giving exhibitions thereof in exhibiting oi' projecting machines licensed by the Licensor containing the inventions or some of them, described and claimed in said Letters Patent Xos. 578,185, 580,749, oS<;,9r>3, oNS,91<;, 073,329, 073,992, 707,934, 722,3*2, 744,251, 770,937, 771,280, 785,205 and 7Sr>,237, or in Letters Patent hereafter acquired or controlled by the Licensor, or of using the same in such machines so licensed; and will not use tin1 same for the purpose of giving exhibitions thereof for profit, directly or indirectly; it being expressly understood and agreed by and between the Licensor and Licensee, however, that the Licensee shall be at Liberty to give exhibitions of such positive motion pictures without profit, directly or indirectly, and to possible or pros